Colombia shells out $200 million to secure peace deal with Trump
Donald Trump, President of the US (photo: Getty Images)
Columbia University has agreed to pay over $200 million to settle discrimination allegations and restore access to federal funding. The deal comes in response to a sharp escalation of political pressure from the Trump administration following protests on campus, according to Bloomberg.
Columbia University reached an agreement with the Donald Trump administration for more than $200 million to resolve several investigations related to human rights violations.
This agreement will restore access to federal research funding, which had been frozen in the spring, and relieve the pressure that has destabilized the financial situation and leadership of the prestigious university in recent months.
The total amount includes a $200 million civil penalty for discriminatory practices, as well as $21 million in compensation related to a lawsuit filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
The case concerns illegal discrimination against Jewish faculty and staff following the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023.
According to a White House official, this is the largest labor settlement related to religious discrimination in the past 20 years.
Funding restored
In response, federal authorities will resume payments for ongoing research projects and allow Columbia University to apply for new grants again. In March, approximately $400 million in federal funding had been withdrawn from the university.
The university has also committed to increasing transparency in admissions and hiring processes, revising policies on student protests, limiting mass and anonymous demonstrations, and strengthening oversight to ensure compliance with federal laws.
Acting President of Columbia University, Claire Shipman, stated that this agreement will help restore trust and preserve academic independence, which she called key to scholarly excellence.
Precedent for other elite universities
This case could set a benchmark for other institutions, including Harvard, which has also faced scandal and financial pressure from the administration.
Columbia came under intense criticism following pro-Palestinian protests on its New York campus that erupted after the October Hamas terrorist attack. Over time, accusations of inciting anti-Semitism were joined by criticism of diversity programs and the large number of international students, who now make up about 40% of the student body and contribute a significant share of the university’s revenue.
Going forward, compliance with the agreement will be overseen by an independent monitor and a special administrator appointed by the government.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has expressed his desire to personally make decisions regarding sanctions on Russia due to its war against Ukraine.
Trump warned that if Putin does not meet the deadline and agree to a peace deal, the consequences for Russia will be very bad.
